New York, Aug 27 (IANS) – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged his country’s support for revitalising the United States’ shipbuilding industry, highlighting bilateral cooperation in maritime security and manufacturing.
During a visit to Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Lee underscored the symbolic importance of the facility, which was acquired last year by Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean for 140 billion won (about $100 million). His trip came a day after his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, Yonhap news agency reported.
Lee attended the christening of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) State of Maine, built for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), accompanied by senior officials from both countries.
Calling the shipyard a cornerstone of Seoul’s proposed “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” (MASGA) initiative, Lee said, “Korea’s shipbuilding industry is embracing a new challenge — to strengthen U.S. maritime security and help rejuvenate America’s shipbuilding capabilities.”
He described MASGA as a project aimed at achieving a “win-win outcome,” allowing the industries of both nations to advance together, and expressed hope that the initiative would mark a new chapter in the alliance as a “future-oriented, comprehensive strategic partnership” spanning security, economic, and technological fields.
Hanwha officials announced plans to increase the shipyard’s production capacity significantly, from the current 1.5 vessels a year to 20.
“This ship represents our nations working side by side to reindustrialise for shared security and prosperity,” said Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan at the ceremony. “We are creating quality manufacturing jobs, building state-of-the-art vessels, and training a new generation of skilled workers here in the U.S.”
